Articles

'Distressed Property' and the Mortgagee's Right of Sale

28 August 2012

What is ‘Distressed Property’?

There have been a number of instances of good clients suffering from what I call a “distressed property” in recent times as a result of the recession. The “distressed property” in many cases is not necessarily the family home. More often than not it is a property purchased by the client as an investment, often immediately before the recession began.

Typically the market value of the property has eroded significantly since the date of purchase, sometimes to the point where the client’s equity in the property is negative. However, for a variety of reasons, the client has not sold the property, or not been able to sell.

Protecting Your Brand

28 August 2012

Many people hold the mistaken belief that by securing a company name they are adequately protecting their brand.

However, in the online environment we now operate in, if your trading name is important to your business it is more important than ever that you protect it properly. A company name, even if it is the same as your business name, will not achieve this because it does not stop someone else registering a website using that name. Nor does it necessarily prevent someone registering a trade mark using that name. Or establishing a blog, facebook page, or some other form of online presence for that matter.

Getting to the Bottom of things

By Mary-Jane Thomas, Crown Solicitor and Director, 4 August 2012

Background

Mr A. was a senior sales executive. He had been employed for 31 years by the same company and progressed in his career from being an operator in the factory owned by the employer right up to second senior sales position.

The New Zealand side of the company was accountable to a senior management team based in Australia – Mr G. was the Managing Director for Australia/New Zealand.

At an awards evening on 3 February 2012 Mr A. received a Silver Fern award in recognition of his sales achievements.